Turkey Track Bar
Well-known member
Northern Rancher's talk about "373" got Lazy Ace and I visiting about the legend. There is a sub-chapter in the "Chiga" chapter of "The History of Red Angus" about "373". Below is the sub chapter, and the picture (I scanned it, so it might not be the clearest, sorry) included within. He was quite the bull. For that matter, his breeder, or perhaps more correctly stated, master breeder, George Chiga is quite the man, with both Canadian and American history.
As a side note, in the current (Oct. 2006) issue of the American Red Angus Magazine, there is an ad selling "373" and other rare semen. The "373" semen is listed as selling for $80 per unit. If you're interested contact Wright Farms, New London, IA, 319-367-2512. The ad states this and the other advertised semen was quality checked in July 2006.
Cheers--
TTB :wink:
Choctaw Chief 373
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"This no-excuses linebreeding approach is how the Chigas ended up producing Choctaw Chief 373, one of the most prepotent bulls of the breed. Many would call him the most prepotent of any breed. His sire was a son of Superchief out of the famous "2" cow and his dam was the daughter of Kansas Chief. According to Garold Parks, who purchased him and 40 heifer mates in 1967 to start the Pioneer Red Angus herd, "Choctaw Chief 373 was intentionally bred to 20 of his daughters for the purpose of identifying any deleterious genes. He came through with 100% flying colors, plus the added bonus that his inbred progeny performed in a superior manner for all production traits without the usual degree of inbreeding depression."
"Although born in 1965, before widespread use of A.I. was common in the beef industry, 373 ranks in the top 15 sires of all times in the number of progeny registered. In addition, many of his sons have also made a positive contribution to the breed. Several years ago, Colorado State University did a study to objectively determine which were the most influential bulls in the Red Angus breed. They did this by quantifying the genetic contribution of all sires to the genetics of the 1996 Red Angus calf crop. Although born in 1965, Choctaw Chief 373's direct coefficient of relationship to the 1996 calf crop was 9.38 percent. That means for the average animal born in 1996, 9.38 percent of its genes were from Choctaw Chief 373; an amazingly high number in any breed."
"Garold Parks noted, "Greatness has been claimed by many, but few achieve it. The term GREAT is overused and truly abused when applied to many sires. When applied to a truly great one, Choctaw Chief 373, it is almost an understatement."
As a side note, in the current (Oct. 2006) issue of the American Red Angus Magazine, there is an ad selling "373" and other rare semen. The "373" semen is listed as selling for $80 per unit. If you're interested contact Wright Farms, New London, IA, 319-367-2512. The ad states this and the other advertised semen was quality checked in July 2006.
Cheers--
TTB :wink: